Project could mean 2 dozen jobs, city administrator says

MORRISON – An assisted living center might be coming to Morrison and creating up to 26 permanent part- and full-time jobs, and 50 to 60 construction-related jobs, City Administrator Jim Wise said Wednesday.

HR Green Inc. of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, wants to build a facility on about 6 acres of land on Bishop Road just west of the sports complex, according to Raymond Leal of Sterling, who said he is selling the site to the developer.

The center will accommodate 42 to 46 residents, said Wise, who declined to provide the developer's name.

The City Council must vote on rezoning the land from agriculture use to business commercial use. The rezoning process will start at the end of May, followed by requests to extend the Whiteside County Enterprise Zone to cover the parcel, he said.

"This is good news," Wise said. "The ultimate benefit is that it gets built in Morrison. We get the opportunity to provide a valuable incentive to a potential developer."

This facility will provide a different level of care than other retirement homes in Morrison, and also will provide senior housing, which is much needed in western Whiteside County, he said.

As Morrison rebounds from a loss of manufacturing jobs, the town is acquiring service industry jobs, he said.

"Part of [the service industry] is to provide housing for the aging population," he said. "This is quickly becoming Morison's new industry."

According to hrgreen.com, HR Green is a professional services firm offering architecture, engineering, technical consulting, and planning services to clients throughout the Midwest.

HR Green provides planning, architectural and engineering services for Windsor Manor Assisted Living Communities. Its parent company is Green Cos. Inc., which owns and operates seven Windsor Manor facilities, all in Iowa.